22 Aug '17

Increase in female professionals helps fuel 65% growth

Summary

Certain sectors such as medicine and architecture have seen huge growth in the past decade in Belgium because of an influx of women professionals

 

Creating jobs

The number of people in Belgium pursuing a career in the “liberal professions”, including the judicial and medical sectors, has grown by 65% over the last 10 years. The increase is largely a result of the growing number of women entering the sectors, according to NSZ, the union that represents the self-employed.

“Certain professions are even becoming majority female, led by paramedics and pharmacists,” said union president Christine Mattheeuws. “In others, the change has already occurred, such as among tutors and home-school teachers. Among lawyers, it’s only a matter of time.”

Across all sectors, 45% of all liberal professionals are now women. Belgian law defines a vrij beroep, or liberal profession, as jobs in law (lawyer, notary and bailiff), medicine (doctor, pharmacist), finance (accountant, auditor) and some building jobs, such as architect and engineers. The distinction between these and other positions usually has to do with governmental regulations surrounding the profession.

Photo: Ingimage

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